So, you’re thinking of purchasing an optometry practice…
Let me guess — you’ve got visions of shiny exam lanes, high-end frames, and a calendar booked solid with patients. But here’s the thing: buying a practice isn’t about owning more equipment or having your name on the door…
It’s about buying cash flow, loyalty, and scalability.
And the quickest way to skyrocket those three things?
Not billboards.
Not Facebook ads.
Not coupons.
➡️ It’s a Membership Program. Yeah, I said it.
Story:
I’ve seen this movie a hundred times…
Dr. Smith buys a practice.
Dr. Smith upgrades the décor.
Dr. Smith hires a new associate.
…and three years later, Dr. Smith is wondering why their revenue feels like a yo-yo.
The truth? Most practices buy patients, not loyalty.
And loyalty = predictable recurring revenue (MRR) + annual recurring revenue (ARR).
That’s where membership plans — like the ones you can build with BoomCloud™ — change the game.
Years ago, I worked with a mid-sized optometry practice that had everything going for it — prime location, killer optical, solid reputation. But their recall rate? Flaky at best.
Patients loved the doctors…
…but insurance dictated the schedule.
So we built a custom Membership Plan:
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$20/month
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Free annual eye exam
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Discounts on lenses and frames
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Contact lens savings
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A few “members only” perks like same-day glasses
In 18 months:
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MRR: $32,000
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ARR: $384,000 locked in before January 1st even started
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Members spent 3.2x more on eyewear than non-members
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Chair time was booked out months in advance
That’s when I realized: If you’re buying a practice, the real asset isn’t the patient list — it’s the relationship monetization system you build after.
Why Membership Plans Crush Insurance-Only Models
Insurance:
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Pays you slower than molasses in January
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Dictates pricing
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Encourages shopping around
Memberships:
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Recurring revenue you control
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Better recall compliance
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Patients pay you directly
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Perceived VIP status
Stat check:
According to BoomCloud™ client data, membership patients spend 2x–4x more annually than non-members. Why? Because they’re already financially committed, they view your services as theirs, and they stop price-shopping like bargain hunters in a mall.
Case Study: How One Practice Used BoomCloud™ to Scale Post-Purchase
Dr. Lee bought a practice doing $750k/year.
Good numbers, but it was tied 90% to vision plan reimbursements.
Phase 1: Build the Membership Offer
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$25/month or $300/year
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Annual exam, OCT, retinal imaging included
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20% off frames, sunglasses, lenses
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Contact lens discounts
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Quarterly members-only trunk shows ️
Phase 2: Onboard Existing Patients
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Every patient who came in got a “members vs non-members” price sheet
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Trained team to pitch the benefits in under 60 seconds
Phase 3: Scale MRR + ARR
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First 90 days: 312 members
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Year 1: 500 members → $150,000 ARR locked in before opening the doors each year
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Year 2: Added cosmetic optometry services to members-only pricing → MRR hit $18,000/month
Result? Dr. Lee paid off the practice purchase loan three years early.
How to Bake Membership Revenue Into Your Practice Purchase Plan
If you’re negotiating to buy a practice, factor in:
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Existing patient base size → Your starting pool for membership enrollment.
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Average revenue per patient (RPP) → Baseline for growth tracking.
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Insurance dependency ratio → The higher it is, the more a membership plan can unshackle you.
Pro Tip: The moment the ink dries on your purchase agreement, launch a Founding Members Offer. Give your first 200 sign-ups lifetime perks or a price lock — urgency sells.
Optimizing for Maximum Revenue Per Patient (RPP)
Here’s how memberships turbocharge your RPP:
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Front-load annual exams → Drives optical sales earlier in the year.
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Bundle services → Frame warranties, lens coatings, OCT — all feel “free” in the plan.
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Upsell premium frames/lenses → Members get discounts, but you keep margins healthy.
If your current RPP is $350 and you move 40% of your patients into a $300/year plan…
That’s $650 RPP without seeing one extra patient.
Build Your Million-Dollar Membership Plan
If you’re buying a practice, your first order of business should be securing predictable, high-margin revenue. BoomCloud™ exists to make that stupid simple.
Download the Million-Dollar Membership Plan Ebook
Take the Six-Figure Patient Membership Plan Course
Schedule a Demo of BoomCloud™
Create Your BoomCloud™ Account for FREE
Bottom line: When you’re purchasing an optometry practice, you’re not just buying patient files — you’re buying the opportunity to turn those patients into loyal, high-value members who stick around, spend more, and keep your revenue graph pointing up and to the right.
